Boqueron, Puerto Rico



Club Nautico where we dinghy over to get water.  We get fuel across the street at the service station.

Sitting here waiting for our weather guru, Chris Parker, to come on the SSB.  Check out his website - http://mwxc.com/index.php . We were fortunate to take some weather seminars from him when we were in George Town in the Bahamas.  He started forecasting the weather when he was a young lad and has been at it ever since.   It’s wonderful how a childhood passion can become a career.  He and his partner are also experienced sailors who lived aboard and sailed for many years.  They are now based in Florida.  Chris has helped many a sailor get along safely on passages.

On Saturday night, we settled down early as we were going to leave Isla Caja de Muertos around 4:30am to head to Boqueron.  Around 9:30pm, Dave was asleep and I was doing a crossword puzzle when I heard a motor outside, thinking it was another boat coming into the mooring field.  All of a sudden, spotlights were shining in through the portholes and a lone siren whooped.  Just the Puerto Rican Marine Police making a routine stop.  We only had to show our boat documentation.  We don’t mind as they help keep the waters safe.  As we watched them head over to Dream Walker without any lights on, I phoned Stan and Elizabeth to warn them so they wouldn’t be startled.  Stan told us the next day that he’d just finished listening to my message when the spotlights came on and their visit ensued.

Boqueron anchorage with Dream Walker (yellow sail cover)

We had an uneventful 10-hour motor to Boqueron on the west coast of Puerto Rico.  The winds were almost non-existent.  So unusual.  The only exciting thing was spotting a water spot three miles directly to the south. 

Water spout a safe distance away

 On Monday, Stan and Elizabeth gave us a little walking tour of the town as they’d stopped here last year.  We stopped at this little stand where Stan and Elizabeth enjoyed some fresh seafood.

Elizabeth and Stan enjoying local fare

Stan and Elizabeth left yesterday morning for the Bahamas, about four and a half days away.  We waved good-bye to them.  “We’ll visit you in Vermont,” I shouted as they went by.  “Bring your fleece!” replied Elizabeth.  Sure hope they are dodging the thunderstorms out there and that they have a good trip north.



Fair winds, Dream Walker!  See you in Vermont!

Yesterday we took two trips in to town to get water and diesel in our jerry jugs to top off our tanks.  This morning I worked on the refrigerator as it’s been acting up a bit.  Cleaned the contacts and replaced a couple of connectors.  Seemed to help.  We’ll see.



Nice nursery in town

Today Dave and I strolled around the town of Boqueron.  We’d read that it’s a town where college students come to have fun on the weekend.  When we arrived on Sunday, things were hoppin’!  Jet skis buzzed around.  Small motor boats raced around a course.  Music blared.  Right before sunset, a guy in a small home-made plane flew among the masts in the anchorage - a little nerve-wracking but kind of cool.  That night there were three very loud bands on a stage on the beach.  Today was pretty quiet for a Saturday.  It’s nice to see families enjoying the beach. 




Watch the masts!

Last night, we joined Rod and Evelyne for dinner aboar their lovely 36' Gozzard sloop, Manatee.  Rod prepared Ti Punch, which apparently is the national drink of Marinique.  (Hmmm, what's the national drink of the US...proabably Budweiser.)  Here is a webpage the tells all about Ti Punch http://rumdood.com/2011/07/14/ti-punch/ .  It's made of Rhum Agricole (smokier than rum), cane sugar juice and lime.  It's delicious.  Dave had a Pastis, the national drink of France  It is made from anise.  Evelyne is French and not surprisingly is a wonderful cook.  She especially loved the French West Indies where she could purchase some of her beloved culinary items such as cornichons pickles and lovely cheeses, which we had for dessert.  Rod is a graduate of the Air Force Academy and had a career as a pilot in the Air Force.  We met them in George Town and left together with two other boats to head south.  The seas were pretty rough that day, and the group of four fell apart and each went a different way.  It was comical.  We have stayed in touch with Rod and Evelyne for the past year and hoped that we would get the chance to travel together again.  And here we are!

 

Dream Walker motoring past Manatee (center) as they leave Boqueron

Tomorrow morning around 0800, Manatee and Wayward Wind will leave Boqueron to cross the Mona Passage bound for Samana, Domincan Republic.  It is 145 miles, so we should arrive on Monday around noon.  Unfortunately the winds are supposed to be very light, so we may have to motor-sail.  We were really hoping to sail without turning on the motor.  We’ll see.  Anyway, it's time to move on.

This is what happens when you stay around an anchorage for too long.  Growth at the mast!